Bathing cap



y 12, 1970 H. GERSON 3,510,880

swam CAP Filed y 96 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v /n ventor: (74M finam May 12, 1970 H. GERSON 5 05 BATHING CAP Filed July 31, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jnrenfor:

United States Patent O 3,510,880 BATHING CAP Horst Gersou, 48 Herforder Str., 48 Bielefeld, Germany Filed July 31, 1968, Ser. No. 748,986 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 9, 1967,

50,850; Nov. 9, 1967, 1,660,732

Int. Cl. A42b 1/12 U.S. Cl. 2-68 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bathing cap for protecting the hair of a wearer against wetting comprises a shell-like cap body having an open side. A marginal portion of the body frames the open side and has an inner surface adapted for engaging the head of a wearer. The marginal portion is provided with one or more channels or chambers extending or distributed circumferentially of the open side and being open to or communicating with the surface of the marginal portion. Suction means communicates with these channels or chambers for producing an underpressure therein whereby to effect water-tight engagement of the surface of the marginal portion with the head of a wearer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a bathing cap, and more particularly to a bathing cap which pre vents the intrusion of water with a reliability not heretofore known.

Bathing caps are known in such a wide variety of types and constructions that it is not possible to review them in brief terms. However, all bathing caps known heretofore sulfer from a common problem, namely their inability to prevent significant portions of the hair of the wearer from becoming wetted, even if a given bathing cap fits tightly to the head of the wearer and provides a relatively good seal. Attempts have been made to overcome this problem, including bathing caps which are provided with marginal portions surrounding the open side of the cap and consisting of foam rubber or the like. However, even this has not been fully satisfactory and the problem still exists. 7 It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problem.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bathing cap suitable for men, women and children which prevents the undesired intrusion of even small quantities of water, and which does so with great reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In pursuance of these objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a bathing cap which is adapted to surround the head of the wearer and to provide protection against wetting of the wearers hair. This bathing cap comprises a shell-like cap body having an open side, and a marginal portion provided on the cap body and framing the open side. This marginal portion has an inner surface adapted for engaging the head of the wearer for the purpose of preventing the entry of water into the interior of the cap body. Further, I provide suction means which is operatively associated with the cap and effective for producing an underpressure in the interior of the cap to thereby effect water-tight engagement of the inner surface with the head of a wearer.

An important feature of my invention is to so construct the bathing cap as to prevent the engagement of the cap, and more particularly of the marginal portion thereof, with the skin of the wearer in the manner of a ice suction-cup, because contact of this type would lead to the formation of hematomes. Accordingly, my bathing cap, or rather the inner surface of the marginal portion thereof, will be so constructed that it is capable of contacting the head of the wearer in response to development of underpressure in the cap, but will not provide such contact over its entire surface area, therefore avoiding the formation of hematomes or skin changes because the skin is not subjected to stoppages in the blood circulation through the skin layers.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accom panying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective of a first embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating a second embodiment of my invention;

FIGS. 3-8 are respective fragmentary cross-sectional views illustrating different embodiments of the marginal portion of the cap;

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate further embodiments of the invention in views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of still a further embodiment of my invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that the novel bathing cap is identified with reference numeral 1. It comprises a shell-like cap body having an open side, as shown, and this open side is framed by a circumferentially extending marginal portion 2. The marginal portion 2 is provided, in accordance with the present invention, with one or a plurality of chambers open to or communicating with the inner surface of the marginal portion 2 which is adapted to engage the head of the wearer, and these chambers are in turn connected, for example, via a conduit 3, with a suitable suction-producing means, such as a ball-type or bulb-type pump 5 (indicated in FIG. 1 in dashed lines) which may be located interiorly or exteriorly of the cap 1 and is advantageously provided with a suction valve 5' of known construction. The type of pump here under discussion, which may of course be replaced with another type of pump if desired, is of the well known squeeze type wherein a rubher or other-elastomeric-material bulb is squeezed to expel air therefrom. Decorations 17 in form of flowers or other shapes may be provided on the exterior of the cap body, as shown in FIG. 1 and they may be merely of decorative nature or they may serve to camouflage the bulb or bulbs provided in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a construction somewhat similar to FIG. 1, differing therefrom in that a plurality of chambers is provided in the marginal portion 2, subdivided by the diagrammatically illustrated inserts 21 which may be provided where desired, for instance in the region of the jawbones, so as to provide a plurality of discrete chambers each of which is connected via a conduit 3 with an individual bulb 5, rather than utilizing a single bulb as in FIG. 1. In other respects the embodiment of FIG. 2 is the same as that of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3-8 illustrate various different embodiments for the construction of the marginal portion 2. FIG. 3 shows.

that is where the marginal portion 2 is provided on its inwardly directed surface with projecting ribs 12 located transversely spaced from one another so as to define a substantial U-shape. The free ends or edges of these ribs 12, which latter of course extend circumferentially of the open side of the cap, are provided with transversely extending flanges or beads 22 each of which has a relatively wide contact surface 32 which engages the head of the wearer. The channel defined between the ribs 12 is in communication with one or more of the conduits 3 which in turn communicate with one or more of the bulbs 5.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 the ribs 12 are provided at their free edges with inwardly extending beads 12a extending circumferentially of the open side of the cap and in turn provided with the contact surfaces 32. The channel thus formed between the ribs 12 and the beads 12a is identified with reference numeral 12b and is of substantially box-shaped cross-sectional configuration, as shown. The aperture or slot with which it is open to the contact surfaces 32, and thereby to the skin of the wearer, is identified with reference numeral 4. The embodiment of FIG. 5 differs from the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 in that the ribs 12 increase in thickness towards their free edges which latter are again provided with the contact surfaces 32. The increase in thickness is inwardly directed so that the undercut channel is of dovetail cross section, as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement wherein the increase in thickness is arranged in reverse, that is where the thickness of the ribs 12 increases in direction outwardly. In other respects FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 5, except for the fact that the contact surfaces 32 carry thereon strips 6 of a soft material, for instance foam rubber or porous rubber with closed pores which is very soft and therefore easy on the skin of the wearer.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 illustrates an arrangement wherein the ribs 12 are hollow. Furthermore, there are provided three of the ribs, as opposed to two of them, so that there are two parallel channels 12b, and each of these channels 12b communicates with at least one of the conduits 3 which may be in form of small tubes or hoses and in turn communicate with the suction-producing means which is not illustrated in FIG. 6. It should be noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 6 the free edges of the hollow ribs 12, whose interior does not communicate with the conduits 3, are rounded. However, under pressure created by operation of the suction-producing means in contact with the rounded free ends of the hollow ribs 12 with the head of the wearer will tend to flatten the rounded edges. If the stiffness of the material from which the ribs 12 are made is suflicient to produce an excessive flattening, the development of hematomes in the skin of the wearer is prevented.

The embodiment of FIG. 7, finally, is somewhat reminiscent of that shown in FIG. 4. The ribs 12, which are reinforced with the beads 12a as in FIG. 4, are provided on the beads with the illustrated projecting lips 7 which also extend circumferentially of the open side of the cap and which initially softly engage the head of the wearer in response to the development of underpressure,

In the embodiments of FIGS. 3-7 the inner or bottom wall of the respective channel, that is of the marginal strip or marginal portion, is shown to be relatively thin. Of course, it can be made thicker, as illustrated in FIG. 8 where the greater thickness is identified with reference numeral 2'. 1

While in the embodiments of FIGS. 3-8 it has been assumed that a single channel, or two parallel channels, extends continuously circumferentially of the open side of the bathing cap, it will be appreciated that the channel can be subdivided into a plurality of chambers, and that these chambers need not communicate with the contact surfaces via the slots 4 shown. Instead, the channel or channels, or the subdivided portions thereof, can be in form of closed compartments which are located interiorly of the marginal portion, and which communicate with the contact surface through a plurality of apertures 4' which may be in form of holes, slots, or the like, and which are distributed cireumferentially of the open side of the bathing cap. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 9 which otherwise corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. It should be noted that the apertures 4' are advantageously located closely adjacent to one another.

Coming now to the embodiment of FIG. 10 it will be seen that here the upper part 1' of the bathing cap 1, that is the part surrounding the forehead of a wearer, is not provided with the marginal portion which is configurated according to the present invention. Only the lateral parts and the bottom part of the bathing cap 1 are provided in this manner. A more detailed discussion of FIG. 10 is not necessary because the particular configuration and construction of the marginal portion 2, where the same does in fact exist in FIG. 10, may be in accordance with any of the preceding embodiments.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11 I have illustrated that the marginal portion 2 may be of rectangular cross section, if desired, or indeed of any other cross section such as polygonal. Here, again, the channel is located interiorly of the marginal portion 2 and subdivided into a plurality of individual sections 21a. The surface of the marginal portion 2 which is to contact the head of the wearer is provided with a row of apertures 4' communicating with the channel in the interior of the marginal portion 2, and a plurality of pumps or suctionproducing means 5 are provided which each communicate with the one of the sections 21a. Reference numerals 24 indicate (compare the broken lines) the internally located Walls subdividing the channel into the individual sections 21a.

The embodiment of FIG. 12, finally, shows the marginal portion 2 to be of tubular configuration and to be provided on its inner surface with a row of apertures 4. Insofar the embodiment of FIG. 12 is the same as that of FIG. 9, for example, except for the fact that in FIG. 12 the suction-producing bulb 5of which there may be one or two provided, is located exteriorly of the cap 1 and is configurated and arranged as a hanging ornament. The inlet valve is identified with reference numeral 5' and the outlet valve with reference numeral 5". Advantageously, the bulb 5, or the two bulbs if the two are provided, will be so positioned as to be located in the region of the ears of a wearer when the cap is in place on the head. Thus, they will be reminiscent of earrings on a bathing cap for female use and will serve a decorative function. Of course, being visible, the bulb or bulbs 5 in this embodiment may be decorated if desired.

It should be emphasized that various modifications, as well as combinations of the different embodiments shown, are possible without departing in any way from the inventive intent and the scope of the present application.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a bathing cap, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. As a novel article of manufacture, a bathing cap adapted to surround the head of a wearer and provide protection against wetting of the wearers hair, comprising a shell-like cap body having an open side; a marginal portion provided on said cap body framing said open side and being provided with at least one inner channel composed of a plurality of discrete channel sections arranged in circumferential end-to-end relationship of said open side, said marginal portion having an inner surface adapted for engaging the head of a wearer for preventing the entry of Water into the interior of the cap body; aperture means in said inner surface and comprising a plurality of apertures each communicating with one of said discrete sections; and suction means communicating with the respective discrete channel sections and including independent means operative for producing an underpressure in each of said channel sections independently of the other of said channel sections.

2. An article as defined in claim 1, said inner surface comprising two reinforced projecting ridges located at opposite sides of said channel extending therealong and engaging the head of a wearer, whereby upon production of said underpressure only said ridges of said inner surface will engage the head of a wearer.

3. An article as defined in claim 1, said suction means including a plurality of suction pumps each operatively associated with one of said sections.

4. An article as defined in claim 1, said cap body including a first portion arranged to cover the back of the head of a wearer, and a second portion arranged to cover the front of the head of a wearer, said suction means being provided on and carried by said first portion.

5. An article as defined in claim 2, said ridges each having outer free edges, and wherein said ridges continuously increase in thickness in direction towards their respective outer free edges.

6. An article as defined in claim 2, said marginal portion having opposite ends and increasing in width continuously in direction towards the respective ends.

7. An article as defined in claim 5, said outer free edges of said ridges being provided with abutment surfaces adapted to engage the head of a wearer.

8. An article as defined in claim 7; and further com prising a liner of soft closed-pore cellular material provided on each of said abutment surfaces overlying the same.

9. An article as defined in claim 8, said material being a synthetic plastic material.

10. An article as defined in claim 2, said ridges being hollow and being of at least substantially identical length.

11. An article as defined in claim 2, said ridges each including an elongated base section, and an elongated coextensive free edge section rising from said base section and provided with an abutment surface adapted to engage the head of a wearer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,238 10/ 1915 Litchfield 2-68 1,184,317 5/1916 Bullard 268 1,898,954 2/1933 Gustafson 2-68 1,520,049 12/1924 Beman 268 1,898,954 2/1933 Gustafson 268 2,072,483 3/1937 Naundorf 268 2,131,344 9/ 1938 Crowley 2-6 2,206,402 7/ 1940 Howland 2-68 3,229,970 7/1967 Damsz 268 H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Primary Examiner 

